Govt to push six anti-graft bills in Parliament, says Shinde

The government will push its six anti-graft framework bills during the short Parliament session next month fulfilling the agenda set by Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing his monthly press conference here today, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the bills would be pushed when Parliament meets next month to pass vote on account.

"Rahuljee Gandhi", as Shinde referred to the Congress Vice President, "has been working for passage of these bills and it was only to fulfil the promises made to the people rather than scoring any political points".

He said the decision was taken at the Core Group meeting of the Congress party held earlier in the day.

The bills likely to be pushed during the session are the Public Procurement Bill, the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) Bill, the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill, Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, The Right of Citizens for Time-bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill and the Whistleblowers Protection Bill.

To a question as to whom did Congress find as bigger challenge -- Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal, Shinde said "none" and elaborated further that Congress had weathered many storms during its 128-year-long history.

"We were ruled out of power in 2004 as we had just faced defeat in six states. However, we came to power and continue till date," he said and also referred to the anti-Congress wave of 1977 which lasted only three years till Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980.

Asked whether the AICC session on January 17 was to announce Rahul as Prime Ministerial candidate, Shinde said the party is of the view that he is a natural choice for the post. "We have always been saying this that we need him and so does the country," he said.

The Home Minister said he was ready to do any work that his party would assign him. "I was asked to be the Chief Minister, Governor, party worker and now a Home Minister. I can do any work which my party feels I am capable of," he said while answering a question on whether he was being shifted to the organisation.